Alonzo G. Sharp

Hon. Alonzo G. Sharp, present mayor of Chattanooga, is a native of Fulton
County, N. Y., his birth occurring January 2, 1841, son of John and
Victoria Sharp, who were natives of Manchester, England. The parents
immigrated to America in 1831 and until 1847 resided at Fulton County,
N. Y., engaged in farming; then moved to Franklin County, Ohio, where
the father died, leaving a widow, three sons and eight daughters to
mourn their loss. About this time, and while yet a mere boy, the subject
of this sketch started out into the world to act and do for himself. He
succeeded in securing a good practical education by much perseverance
and industry, and at the time of the breaking out of hostilities between
the North and South was acting in the capacity of bookkeeper in the
commission house of J. R. Paul & Co., of Columbus, Ohio. In April, 1861,
immediately after the assault upon Fort Sumter, he enlisted as a private
in Company C, Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was a participant in
the first battle of Bull Run. When his term of enlistment had expired he
organized a new company for the service of which he was elected captain.
This was Company B, Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The regiment
was ordered to Paducah, Ky., under command of Gen. W. T. Sherman, and
from there up the Tennessee River to Shiloh, Corinth, Memphis and on
into Mississippi. Before starting on the campaign against Vicksburg,
Capt. Sharp was compelled to resign from the service on account of ill
health, and he returned to Ohio to recuperate. November 17, 1864, he
united in marriage with Miss Jennie Cushman, of Columbus, Ohio, and
shortly after this event located in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he has
since mostly resided, closely identified with the city's business
interests and prosperity. His career as a civil officer began in 1867
when he was elected city treasurer, and from that time until the present
he has been almost continuously in public life. In 1867-68 he was city
treasurer, and in 1869 was mayor of the city, also serving as director
in the Tennessee penitentiary at the same time. In 1870 he served about
six months as clerk and master of Hamilton County Chancery Court under
appointment of Chancellor D. C. Trewhitt. The fall of 1870 be was
elected city recorder, and after serving two elective terms, was elected
city attorney, serving one year. At the close of his second term of
recorder he formed a legal partnership with Judge D. C. Trewhitt and
practiced law until 1873, when he was appointed by President Grant
internal revenue collector for the Third Tennessee District, in which
position he served until they were consolidated. In March, 1877, he was
appointed an inspector in the post office department by
Postmaster-General D. M. Key, and in charge of a force resided with his
family at San Francisco four years. He then returned to Chattanooga, but
removed to Washington, D. C., to fill the appointment of chief inspector
of the United States. He resigned this position in September, 1885, and
again returning to his old home in Chattanooga was, the month following,
elected mayor of the city to serve two years. Mr. Sharp is one of the
Republican leaders of Tennessee.